Sportsnet.ca — Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic is back in the winner’s circle. All he needed was to return to his roots.
The six-foot-two Croatian mixed martial artist took care of Tatsuya Mizuno by knockout 56 seconds into his fight Saturday at DREAM.1 in Japan. It broke two-fight losing streak for the 33-year-old, both coming in the Octagon, a slide that led to a temporary release from his UFC contract.
Cro Cop, a former PRIDE star, was back in Japan after where he built a dominant record before entering the UFC. His was the most anticipated of the event’s card, held in front of a sellout crowd at the Saitama Super Arena in the debut of the new promotion, established in part by owners of the now-defunct PRIDE organization.
All bouts were fought under official DREAM mixed martial arts rules, with a 10 min first and 5 min second round.
In the main event, Gesias (JZ) Calvancante fought to a no-contest against Shinya Aoki in a battle of world-class lightweights as part of the first round of a Grand Prix elimination tournament.
The referee called a stop to the match when Calvancante hit Aoki with an elbow to his back, a rule violation.
After conferring with the ringside doctor, it was deemed Aoki could not continue, and the match was ruled a no-contest.
Six other fighters advanced in the lightweight tournament, including highly-ranked Tatsuya Kawajiri, who defeated Vancouver’s Kultar Gill by decision.
NOTES: According to Sherdog.com, Fight Entertainment Group, the parent company of DREAM, are close to a deal with HDNet to air six of the promotion’s events in 2008. This could include a delayed broadcast of Saturday’s inaugural event.
— with files from MMAonTap.com
